Admitting a patient with diabetes to the hospital
Persons with diabetes have a two- to four-fold higher hospitalization rate than do those without diabetes. Pre-established goals and a good admission history can improve their care.
Persons with diabetes have a two- to four-fold higher hospitalization rate than do those without diabetes. Poorly controlled diabetes has been associated with increased infectious complications, delayed wound healing, increased medical costs, increased length of stay and increased mortality.
The general goals for patients with diabetes in the acute care setting are:
- avoiding hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia;
- avoiding metabolic abnormalities, such as volume depletion or electrolyte abnormalities;
- meeting nutritional needs and
- assessing educational needs.
The initial history of the patient with diabetes who is admitted to the hospital should include the following information:
- preadmission medications for diabetes,
- home glucose monitoring results,
- outpatient diet,
- hemoglobin A1c values (if available) and
- history or presence of complications from diabetes.
From the ACP Diabetes Care Guide.